This delicious Air Fryer Whole Chicken recipe has tender, juicy meat and perfectly crispy skin seasoned with herbs and spices — no oven needed! Easy recipe for a weeknight dinner, small holiday gathering, or meal prep for wraps, salads, casseroles, and more.
For more easy air fryer chicken recipes, try Air Fryer Panko Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer BBQ Chicken, and Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken.
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Making a whole roast chicken in the air fryer is so easy and insanely delicious. Perfectly crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and no heating up the oven.
It's an easy hands-off weeknight dinner, and if you're lucky enough to have leftover chicken, toss it into BBQ Chicken Wraps, One Pot Creamy Chicken and Pasta, or Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad.
❤️You're Going to Love These
- Ridiculously juicy, tender chicken with crispy, golden skin. No oven needed (save that for dessert!)
- Quick and easy enough for a weeknight, but special enough for a small holiday dinner
- Super versatile. Use your favorite spices to switch up the flavor
- Great for meal prep. Use it in wraps, casseroles, salads, or eat it as-is all week.
🍗Ingredients
See recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients and exact amounts.
- Whole chicken. The cooking time is based on a 5-6 lb. fresh chicken. Plan on air frying a whole bird for about 12-15 minutes per pound of chicken.
- Olive oil. Avocado oil is another good option for air fryers because it has a high smoke point.
- Italian seasoning. You can also use equal parts basil and oregano or poultry seasoning.
🥘Equipment
- Air Fryer. I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer.
- Tongs. A set of long tongs is the easiest way to flip a whole chicken without tearing the skin.
🍋Variations or Substitutions
- Herbs. Swap out the Italian seasoning for equal parts basil and oregano, poultry seasoning, Herbs de Provence, or create your own custom blend with a mixture of herbs like tarragon, parsley, thyme, basil, sage, and rosemary.
- Spices. Add a little heat with cayenne pepper, or add a different flavor to your chicken rub with lemon pepper, chili powder, sumac, za'atar, cumin, or coriander.
- Citrus. Add a refreshing citrus twist by mixing in a tablespoon or two of lemon juice, orange juice, or lime juice.
🥣How to Cook a Whole Chicken in an Air Fryer
Step 1: Remove the grate and preheat the air fryer to 360. Pat the chicken dry (inside and out) with paper towel. Combine the oil and seasonings in a small bowl.
Step 2: Place the chicken breast-side-up on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush or rub ½ of the oil and seasoning mixture onto the chicken skin. Place the chicken breast-side down in the air fryer basket. Brush the remaining oil and seasonings onto the other side of the chicken.
Step 3: Air fry for 45 minutes. Flip the chicken and replace the grate. Air fry for 15-30 more minutes or until the internal temperature reads 165 on an instant-read thermometer.
Step 4: Let the chicken rest 5-10 minutes before carving to keep the juices from running out.
👉Helpful Hint: Remove the grate for the first half of cooking so the chicken breast meat cooks in its juices. Replace it when you flip the chicken to let the grease drain off.
✅Top Tips
- Air fry whole chicken at 360 degrees for 12-15 minutes per pound.
- Pat the chicken completely dry inside and out with paper towels. Removing the excess moisture helps the skin get extra crispy.
- Starting the roast chicken breast-side-up allows the fat to baste the chicken breasts for extra juicy white meat and helps the dark meat fully cook.
- Flip the chicken by using tongs in the cavity of the chicken. It gives you the best leverage and doesn't tear the skin.
🎁Storage
- Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- To freeze leftovers for soups, casseroles, and salads, shred or chop the chicken and portion it into freezer bags (1–2 cups each). Thaw in the fridge overnight or in cold water for a quick defrost.
- Save the bones to make homemade chicken stock. Just toss them in a freezer bag and freeze them until you're ready to simmer up a flavorful stock.
❓FAQ
No. The chicken needs to be thawed first to cook evenly and safely.
Air fryer baskets can accommodate whole chickens ranging from 3 to 6 pounds. My 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer easily fits a 6.5 lb. chicken.
The cook time for a whole chicken in the air fryer at 360°F is about 12-15 minutes per pound of chicken.
Yes. Flipping a whole chicken in the air fryer helps get that crispy skin all over.
Check with a meat thermometer. A whole chicken in the air fryer is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees f.
😋Leftover Chicken Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Equipment
- long tongs, for flipping
Ingredients
- 5-6 lb. whole chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees. Optionally, remove the grate. Pat the inside and outside of the chicken dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, combine the oil and seasonings. Brush ½ of the mixture onto the breast side of the chicken. Place chicken breast-side down into the preheated air fryer. Brush the remaining oil and seasonings onto the other side of the chicken.
- Air fry for 45 minutes. Turn the chicken over with tongs and replace the grate. Air fry for 15-30 more minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before carving.
Notes
- Air fry whole chicken at 360 degrees for 12-15 minutes per pound.
- Pat the chicken completely dry inside and out with paper towels. Removing the excess moisture helps the skin get extra crispy.
- Flip the chicken by using tongs in the cavity of the chicken. It gives you the best leverage and doesn't tear the skin.
- Remove the grate for the first half of cooking so the chicken breast meat cooks in its juices. Replace it when you flip the chicken to let the grease drain off.
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